Golf accessory holder

ABSTRACT

A golf accessory holder is made up of an oblong housing for a spring-loaded spool, a belt clip on the back of the housing, and a divot repair tool is slidable through an external groove on the front of the housing, the tool being attached at one end to a flexible line which is wound upon the spool to enable extension of the tool when grasped by the golfer to repair a divot in the ground and to automatically retract the tool when released to slide upwardly into the groove; and other accessories, including a ball marker and golf tees may be releasably mounted on the housing.

BACKGROUND AND FIELD

The following relates to golf accessory holders, and more particularly relates to a novel and improved golf accessory holder for a divot repair tool which can be releasably secured to the waist of a golfer.

In the game of golf, divots can be caused by a golf club gouging the turf, for example, in striking the golf ball, or can be caused by the impact of the golf ball landing on the green so as to cause a depression and unevenness in the green's surface. The latter form of divot is customarily referred to as a “ball mark”. The ball marks which are formed on the green are repaired by the golfer with the aid of a repair tool which includes a flat handle portion that is gripped in the fingers and a pair of tines at one end of the handle which can be inserted into the ground beneath the ball mark and pried up to restore the ground surface to its original condition.

Numerous types of holders have been devised in the past for hand-held divot repair tools so that the golfer does not have to reach into a pocket of the golf bag or in the clothing being worn by the golfer. Nevertheless, there is a continuing need for a holder which can be mounted externally of the clothing and which will greatly facilitate both the storage and release of the divot repair tool, as well as to permit mounting of other golf accessories on the holder, such as, golf tees, ball markers, etc.; and further wherein the ball marker will cooperate with the holder in securely aligning the repair tool in the storage position but will leave it at least partially exposed so that it may be easily grasped by the golfer.

SUMMARY

It is therefore desirable to provide for a novel and improved golf accessory holder which can be worn externally of the golfer or releasably secured to a golf bag; and wherein a spring-wound, retractable divot repair tool is easily insertable into a guideway in the holder for convenient storage and release of the divot repair tool.

Another feature is to provide for a novel and improved golf accessory holder which can be releasably clipped onto the golfer's waist and which facilitates convenient storage and release of different accessories, including but not limited to a divot repair tool, golf tees, and a ball marker.

In one embodiment, the golf accessory holder includes a low profile, oblong housing for a spring-loaded spool, a belt clip on the back of the housing to facilitate attachment to the golfer's waist, and the divot repair tool is slidable through an elongated guideway in the housing for convenient storage and release of the tool, the tool being attached at one end to a flexible line which is wound upon the spool and enables extension of the tool when grasped by the golfer for repairing divots and permits automatic retraction of the tool when released by the golfer to slide upwardly into the guideway so as to be aligned in the same position each time for convenient grasping and release by the golfer. In a second embodiment, a golf accessory holder includes the same basic housing as employed in the one embodiment, with a modified form of belt clip and retainer slots for golf tees together with the divot repair tool and magnetic ball marker as illustrated in the one embodiment.

The above and other objects, advantages and features will become more readily appreciated and understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a golf accessory holder;

FIG. 2 is a front view in elevation of the one embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view partially in section taken about lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the one embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the one embodiment illustrating the divot repair tool in the extended position;

FIG. 6 is a side view of an additional embodiment with a modified form of belt clip and retainer for golf tees;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a side view of a further embodiment with a modified form of retainer for golf tees and ball marker ledge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ONE EMBODIMENT

There is shown by way of illustrative example in FIGS. 1 to 5 one embodiment of a golf accessory holder H which is broadly comprised of an oblong housing 10, and a spring-loaded spool 12 is journaled within the housing with a flexible line 14 wound upon the spool. A divot repair tool 16 is slidably disposed in a guideway 18 in the housing, one end of the tool being attached to a free end of the flexible line 14. A belt clip 20 is mounted externally of the housing 10 to facilitate attachment to a golfer's waist or belt, not shown. Other accessories that may be secured to the holder H are a ball marker 22, the ball marker 22 being releasably positioned on the guideway 18, and a golf tee clip 58 at the lower end of the housing 10. In addition, a belt clip 20 is mounted on the back of the housing 10 for the purpose of securing the holder H onto the waist of the golfer, for example, by suspending from a belt, not shown, around the golfer's waist in a well known manner.

The housing 10 is made up of substantially flat front and rear walls 24 and 26 which are mounted in spaced apart relation to receive a generally circular canister 28 which houses the spool 12. In turn, the spool 12 has a center pin 30 with a return spring 31 which has opposite ends journaled in the front and rear walls 24 and 26 so as to center the spool 12 within the canister 28.

The guideway 18 includes an upper end wall 32 joining the front and rear walls 24 and 26 and downwardly extending, spaced legs 34 in overlying spaced relation to the front wall 24 and on opposite sides of the front wall 24 so as to form a shallow groove 36 to receive the upper handle end 40 of the divot repair tool 16. The legs 34 define upwardly convergent sidewalls.

A free end 15 of the flexible line 14 is fed upwardly through an opening 38 at the upper end of the front wall 24 and then advanced downwardly for insertion through an opening 39 in the upper flat handle end 40 of the divot repair tool 16. The free end 15 of the line 14 may be secured in any suitable manner to the tool 16, for example, by the utilization of a plug represented at 41 on the free end of the line 14 which is press-fit into the opening 39 or simply by tying a knot at the free end of the line 14 after it is inserted through the opening 39. The repair tool 16 is merely representative of several types of repair tools which typically are provided with a relatively flat handle portion as at 40, and a pair of tines 42 at the lower end which can be inserted into the ground beneath a ball mark and pried up to return the ball mark to its original condition.

The legs 34 diverge downwardly along the front surface of the front wall 24 and leave a sufficient gap as defined by the groove 36 to permit upward sliding movement of the handle portion 40 into a stored position, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. The greater length of the tool 16 is exposed so that it may be easily removed from the holder H by manually pressing downwardly against the front surface of the tool and advancing it to the extended position as shown in FIG. 5. As is customary practice, the golfer may simply reach down to force the tool into the ground as described to fix the ball mark and then return the tool to the stored position by raising his or her hand to permit the line 14 to be wound under spring pressure of the spring 31 until the upper end of the tool slides into the stored position as described earlier.

The belt clip 20, as shown in FIG. 3, includes an upper spring-loaded end portion 44 pivotally mounted on the rear wall 26 of the holder H and has a downwardly extending arm 46 terminating in a right angle portion 48 which bears against the lower end of the rear wall 26. In this way, the arm 46 can be forced outwardly along with the right angle portion 48 and passed over the belt or waist band of the pants then released to retain securely in place.

The front surface of the guideway 18 above the legs has a magnetized surface 19 for releasable attachment of the ball marker 22 directly beneath a ledge 50, and a series of grooves or serrations 52 are formed in the upper end wall of the guideway to facilitate grasping of the holder H in the positioning and release of the holder H, for example, with respect to a belt.

Detailed Description of a Further Embodiment

For the purpose of illustration but not limitation, another embodiment of a golf accessory holder H′ is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 wherein like elements to those shown in FIG. 1-5 are enumerated with prime numbers. As in the one embodiment, the holder H′ is comprised of an elongated housing 10′, a spring-loaded spool 12′, flexible line 14′ wound upon the spool, and a guideway 18′ in the housing 10′ to receive one end of a divot repair tool 16′ attached to a free end of the line 14′.

The guideway 18′ includes an upper end wall 32′ between the front and rear walls 24′ and 26′, and a ball marker 22′ is releasably positioned over the upper end of the guideway 18′ as described in the one embodiment.

One or more golf tees T may be inserted into the housing 10′. For example, an open groove or slot 56 includes a tee clip 58 in the lower end of the housing 10′ and which extends transversely of the length of the housing 10′. Another clip 60 extends through an intermediate portion of the housing 10′ above the spool 12′ for transverse extension of a second golf tee T without interfering with the extension and retraction of the divot repair tool 16′.

A modified form of golf clip 20′ is mounted on the rear wall 26′ of the housing 10′, the clip 20′ being made up of an attachment plate 64 which is permanently affixed to the rear wall 26′ and a generally u-shaped spring clip 66 at the upper end of the attachment plate which has an outer free end 68 that will expand under pressure to permit mounting on a golfer's waist, such as, over a belt; or the clip may be mounted on an external portion of the golf bag when not in use.

Detailed Description of a Further Embodiment

For the purpose of illustration but not limitation, another embodiment of a golf accessory holder H″ is illustrated in FIG. 8 wherein like elements to those shown in FIG. 1-5 are enumerated with double prime numbers. As in the one embodiment, the holder H″ is comprised of an elongated housing 10″ and a guideway 18″ in the housing 10″ to receive one end of a divot repair tool 16″.

The guideway 18″ includes an upper end wall 32″ between the front and rear walls 24″ and 26″, and a ball marker 22″ is releasably positioned over the upper end of the guideway 18″ as described in the one embodiment. The front surface of the guideway 18″ above the legs has a magnetized surface for releasable attachment of the ball marker 22″ directly beneath a ledge 50″ that is flush with the edge of the ball marker 22″, and a series of grooves or serrations 52″ are formed in the upper end wall of the guideway to facilitate grasping of the holder H″ in the positioning and release of the holder H″, for example, with respect to a belt.

A modified form of golf tee clip 58″ in the form of a pinch clip is also shown in the lower end of the housing 10″ and which extends transversely of the partial length of the housing 10″.

Although a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize other modifications, permutations, additions, and sub-combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and any claims hereafter introduced should be interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions, and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope. 

1. A golf accessory holder comprising: a housing having spaced front and rear walls; first means on said housing for suspending said holder above the ground surface; a spool journaled in said housing including a flexible, elongated line extending around said spool for downward extension through an external groove on said front wall; a divot repair tool secured to a free end of said line for downward extension through said groove, said groove being open-ended at its lower end for downward extension of said tool and said line away from said housing for a distance sufficient to enable a golfer to repair a divot in the ground; and said tool being manually extendable away from said holder and said spool including means for retracting said line and rewinding around said spool until said tool returns into a seated position within said groove.
 2. A golf accessory holder according to claim 1 wherein said groove includes a pair of spaced legs.
 3. A golf accessory holder according to claim 2 wherein said legs define upwardly convergent sidewalls.
 4. A golf accessory holder according to claim 1 wherein said groove is sized to receive one end of said tool.
 5. A golf accessory holder according to claim 4 wherein said spool is interposed between front and rear walls of said housing.
 6. A golf accessory holder according to claim 1 including a ball marker releasably positioned on said front wall of said housing above said groove, said ball marker cooperating with said groove in guiding said tool into said groove.
 7. A golf accessory holder according to claim 6 wherein said ball marker is releasably secured to said housing.
 8. A golf accessory holder according to claim 1 wherein said first means is defined by a clip releasably suspended from a golfer's waist, said clip including a spring-loaded arm extending externally of said rear wall.
 9. A golf accessory holder according to claim 1 including a ledge in overhanging relation to said ball marker.
 10. A golf accessory holder according to claim 1 including recesses in said housing for insertion of golf tees.
 11. A golf accessory holder according to claim 10 wherein said recesses extend transversely of the length of said housing.
 12. A golf accessory holder comprising: an oblong housing having spaced parallel front and rear walls; a belt clip mounted on said rear wall; a spool journaled in said housing including a flexible, elongated line extending around said spool for downward extension through an external groove on said front wall; a divot repair tool secured to a free end of said line for downward extension through said groove, said groove being open-ended at its lower end for downward extension of said tool and said line away from said housing for a distance sufficient to enable a golfer to repair a divot in the ground; and said tool being manually extendable away from said holder and said spool including means for retracting said line and rewinding around said spool until said tool returns into a seated position within said groove.
 13. A golf accessory holder according to claim 12 wherein said groove includes upwardly convergent sidewalls in spaced relation to said front wall.
 14. A golf accessory holder according to claim 12 wherein said groove is of a length to receive an upper end of said tool.
 15. A golf accessory holder according to claim 14 wherein said spool is journaled between front and rear walls of said housing.
 16. A golf accessory holder according to claim 15 including a magnetized surface on said front wall of said housing above said groove, and a ball marker releasably positioned on said magnetized surface.
 17. A golf accessory holder according to claim 12 wherein said clip includes a spring-loaded arm extending externally of said rear wall.
 18. A golf accessory holder according to claim 12 including a ledge having an exterior surface flush with an exterior surface of said ball marker.
 19. A golf accessory holder according to claim 12 including at least one recess in said housing for insertion of a golf tee.
 20. A golf accessory holder according to claim 19 wherein each said recess extends transversely of the length of said housing.
 21. A golf accessory holder according to claim 12 including a pinch clip for insertion of a golf tee. 